Battle of Schwedt

The Battle of Schwedt (late October 1805) was a battle of the Napoleonic Wars that occurred when the 1,667-strong French army of Marshal Michel Ney advanced from Berlin to the border with Poland to destroy Johann David Ludwig's 1,347-strong Prussian army before it could withdraw to the city of Danzig or into Poland. Ludwig was unable to retreat to safety due to Ney's sudden attack, and the French formed a battle line in front of the Prussian army, with the Prussian left flank being positioned closer to the French army than their right flank. The French took advantage of this to destroy the Prussian army's left flank early in the battle, and the French cavalry proceeded to sweep away the Prussian Army's artillery befoore the French army destroyed the remaining Prussian regiments on the right flank. The French won a decisive victory, destroying a major Prussian army.